Latest news with #ClayCountySheriff
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Man, 24, Vanishes After Traveling Out of State for Dating App Meet-Up. Weeks Later, His Remains Are Found
'We needed him back home," Nicholas Anderson's stepfather saidNEED TO KNOW The family members of Nicholas Anderson, 24, said they had not heard from their loved one after he went to Florida to see a man he met through a dating app in April Authorities said skeletal remains were found in May near the retention wall of a home on the St. Johns River in Fleming Island The remains were later identified as belonging to Anderson, the Clay County Sheriff's Office announced on Aug. 1The remains of a missing Atlanta man, whose family said traveled to Florida to meet a person off a dating app, have been identified. The Clay County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) in Florida said in a Friday, Aug. 1, news release that skeletal remains found in May near the retention wall of a home on the St. Johns River in Fleming Island belonged to Nicholas Lamont Anderson, 24. The positive identification was made in cooperation with the District 4 Medical Examiner's Office and with help from the community, authorities said. 'While this is a considerable step forward in this investigation, CCSO detectives are still seeking information about Mr. Anderson and circumstances leading up to the discovery of his body; specifically, the persons he encountered, his activities, and places he visited from April 1 to April 7, 2025,' the sheriff's office said. The Clay County Sheriff's Office has not released Anderson's cause of death or shared whether or not foul play is suspected. PEOPLE contacted the sheriff's office for comment on Tuesday, Aug. 5. In an interview with NBC affiliate WXIA, Anderson's aunt, Monica Tucker, said her nephew traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., to meet a man he had been corresponding with on a dating app. He had not returned home from that trip since April. Tucker said when Anderson did not show up, his family went to Jacksonville to meet the man from the app. She added that there were inconsistencies in the man's story, although authorities later cleared him. 'First, he said he didn't see him,' Tucker told WXIA. 'Then he said he went to the hotel to watch movies. And then he says he took them to go get cigarettes, and then he kept saying something about a pier.' Trommell Henry, Anderson's stepfather, told CBS affiliate WANP that it was out of character for his stepson to not check in with his family during his stay in Florida. "We needed him back home. We wanted him back home. Having family is truly the key,' Henry said. Mary Anderson, the victim's mother, said in the same interview that her son has experienced mental health issues. 'I don't see him just randomly picking this particular place to go to, to travel to. So I feel as though it was someone that he chose to meet there,' she added. Mary remembered her son as someone who was full of life and loved to crochet. She alleged that her son's case was not taken seriously at first, saying, 'I thought no one cared about my missing Black boy.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Tucker, who said Anderson has been taking his medication, suspects something is amiss amid the news of the discovery and identification of remains. 'He would never hurt himself, and he knows how to swim. So, there's no way. I think it's foul play,' she told WXIA. The Clay County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in the investigation and said there is a $5,000 reward if a tip leads to an arrest or advances the case. Those with information are asked to call 904-264-6512 or use the SaferWatch app. If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Florida teen charged with killing parents after 911 confession from church, deputies say
A 14-year-old boy is facing two counts of second-degree murder after confessing to fatally shooting his parents in Northeast Florida early Monday, according to authorities. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said that on Aug. 4, the teen suspect called 911, identifying himself and telling dispatchers he had killed his parents inside their home in Middleburg, a suburb about 26 miles southwest of Jacksonville. He told dispatchers he was waiting at a nearby church parking lot to be taken into custody. CBS News Miami is not naming the teen because he is a minor and it is unclear if he's being charged as an adult. Whether he's prosecuted as an adult will be up to the State Attorney's Office. Deputies responded immediately to both locations, making contact with the teen a short distance from the home and taking him into custody without incident, the sheriff's office said in a press release. Inside the residence, deputies found the bodies of the suspect's parents, 44-year-old David Lee and 45-year-old Brandi Smith, both of whom had sustained apparent gunshot wounds, investigators said. Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook told CBS affiliate WKMG in Orlando that investigators believe the shootings followed "some sort of domestic argument" Sunday night between the teen suspect and his parents. Deputies believe the teen used his parents' gun in the shooting, Cook said. The sheriff's office said the incident appears to be an isolated, domestic-related case, and there is no threat to the community. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and all those impacted by this heartbreaking event. Our thoughts remain with them as they navigate this unimaginable loss," the sheriff's office said in a statement. The investigation remains active as deputies gather evidence and examine the suspect's mental health, background and school history. The best friend of the 14-year-old told News4JAX he was shocked to hear someone he considered close was accused of such a violent act. "They were probably the best, or one of the best families, I knew," family friend Kyree Beamon told the station. "They were funny, and they treated me very well. They told me all the time that they loved me like a son, and they treated me as such." Beamon said he and the teen suspect played on the same football team, and just last Friday, on Aug. 1, the boy and his father gave him a ride to and from practice. The two had been friends since elementary school and spoke on the phone just after midnight Monday. "He told me that he loved me and he told me that he was just calling to tell me good night," Beamon said, adding he wasn't sure if the call came before or after the 911 call to police.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Yahoo
Man, 24, Vanishes After Traveling Out of State for Dating App Meet-Up. Weeks Later, His Remains Are Found
'We needed him back home," Nicholas Anderson's stepfather saidNEED TO KNOW The family members of Nicholas Anderson, 24, said they had not heard from their loved one after he went to Florida to see a man he met through a dating app in April Authorities said skeletal remains were found in May near the retention wall of a home on the St. Johns River in Fleming Island The remains were later identified as belonging to Anderson, the Clay County Sheriff's Office announced on Aug. 1The remains of a missing Atlanta man, whose family said traveled to Florida to meet a person off a dating app, have been identified. The Clay County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) in Florida said in a Friday, Aug. 1, news release that skeletal remains found in May near the retention wall of a home on the St. Johns River in Fleming Island belonged to Nicholas Lamont Anderson, 24. The positive identification was made in cooperation with the District 4 Medical Examiner's Office and with help from the community, authorities said. 'While this is a considerable step forward in this investigation, CCSO detectives are still seeking information about Mr. Anderson and circumstances leading up to the discovery of his body; specifically, the persons he encountered, his activities, and places he visited from April 1 to April 7, 2025,' the sheriff's office said. The Clay County Sheriff's Office has not released Anderson's cause of death or shared whether or not foul play is suspected. PEOPLE contacted the sheriff's office for comment on Tuesday, Aug. 5. In an interview with NBC affiliate WXIA, Anderson's aunt, Monica Tucker, said her nephew traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., to meet a man he had been corresponding with on a dating app. He had not returned home from that trip since April. Tucker said when Anderson did not show up, his family went to Jacksonville to meet the man from the app. She added that there were inconsistencies in the man's story, although authorities later cleared him. 'First, he said he didn't see him,' Tucker told WXIA. 'Then he said he went to the hotel to watch movies. And then he says he took them to go get cigarettes, and then he kept saying something about a pier.' Trommell Henry, Anderson's stepfather, told CBS affiliate WANP that it was out of character for his stepson to not check in with his family during his stay in Florida. "We needed him back home. We wanted him back home. Having family is truly the key,' Henry said. Mary Anderson, the victim's mother, said in the same interview that her son has experienced mental health issues. 'I don't see him just randomly picking this particular place to go to, to travel to. So I feel as though it was someone that he chose to meet there,' she added. Mary remembered her son as someone who was full of life and loved to crochet. She alleged that her son's case was not taken seriously at first, saying, 'I thought no one cared about my missing Black boy.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Tucker, who said Anderson has been taking his medication, suspects something is amiss amid the news of the discovery and identification of remains. 'He would never hurt himself, and he knows how to swim. So, there's no way. I think it's foul play,' she told WXIA. The Clay County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in the investigation and said there is a $5,000 reward if a tip leads to an arrest or advances the case. Those with information are asked to call 904-264-6512 or use the SaferWatch app. If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
Hundreds of teens run off from Orange Park Mall amid crackdown on bad behavior. What we know
A crackdown on bad behavior at Orange Park Mall, sparked by reports of disturbances by unruly youths, sent hundreds running July 5 amid a massive presence by Clay County sheriff's deputies. No arrests or injuries were reported immediately as deputies swarmed to get the crowd under control, according to social media posts and videos that went viral overnight. Neither Clay County Sheriff's Office officials nor Orange Park Mall management could be reached for comment on July 6. However, Sheriff Michelle Cook said in a July 7 statement emailed to the Times-Union that "one juvenile civil citation was issued, a number of kids were detained, and parents were called for pickup" during the incident. The Sheriff's Office warned on Facebook the morning of July 5 that it would be out in force that evening after learning that a "big reunion was planned" at the mall at 1919 Wells Road. "And our feelings were hurt we didn't get an invite! So in good fashion, we will be out and about all over Clay County to keep the peace, and if we have to we will play the party crashers!" the Sheriff's Office post said. Mall management also posted an advisory that morning, saying it would strictly enforce its code of conduct. It warned that "violations may result in removal from the property, loss of shopping privileges and/or criminal prosecution." The mall posted a link to the code of conduct on its website. At 7:30 p.m. July 5, the Sheriff's Office announced on Facebook that people needed to immediately come get their children if they were at the mall. That announcement triggered 1,200 comments as of 10:30 a.m. July 6. Deputies could be seen about 8 p.m. surrounding groups of teenagers at the mall. A Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Times-Union news partner First Coast News that deputies responded to a group of teens causing "disturbances" there. Some commenters reported seeing groups estimated at 20 to 100 teenagers running from the mall across Wells Road and Blanding Boulevard as sheriff's deputies worked at crowd control. Many social media posters voiced support for the Sheriff's Office and mall officials. Others decried the necessity for the crackdown. And some denounced troublemakers, as well as their parents for failing to raise their children right. One witness posted: "A lot of the stores closed early. My spouse and I were in shock. And parents really do need to know what their children are up to." Another said parents need to step up. "No kids should be at the mall without adult supervision. Enforce the rules! We use to back in the day, but we were taught how to be respectful and responsible. Most kids these days are raising themselves and could care less about others! It's such a shame," the post read. Another called on Clay County officials to create more activities for youths so they will have something to do besides cause trouble at the mall. "Kids congregate there because there is nothing for them to do in Orange Park except skating rink and movies. Therefore they find and create trouble. … I'm not excusing bad children or bad parenting, but idle hands & minds do the devil's work. You want to reduce crime, give these kids something to do ( a lot of them may be in 1/2 absent parent homes due to parents working, drugs, or incarceration)." Opened in 1975, Orange Park Mall is the Jacksonville area's second-oldest indoor shopping mall. The weekend incident was the most recent disturbance involving teenagers at the 953,000 square foot shopping center. 2014 teen disturbance: Crowd of teens involved in weekend incidents at Orange Park Mall, Chick-fil-A Past incidents date back to at least 2014, Times-Union archives show, and have happened sporadically since then. (This story has been updated with new information) This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Hundreds of teens cleared from Orange Park Mall amid disturbance
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Hundreds of teens run off from Orange Park Mall amid crackdown on bad behavior. What we know
A crackdown on bad behavior at Orange Park Mall, sparked by reports of disturbances by unruly youths, sent hundreds running July 5 amid a massive presence by Clay County sheriff's deputies. No arrests or injuries were reported immediately during the incident as deputies swarmed to get the crowd under control, according to social media posts and videos that went viral overnight. Neither Clay County Sheriff's Office officials nor Orange Park Mall management could be reached for comment on July 6. The Sheriff's Office warned on Facebook the morning of July 5 that it would be out in force that evening after learning that a "big reunion was planned" at the mall at 1919 Wells Road. "And our feelings were hurt we didn't get an invite! So in good fashion, we will be out and about all over Clay County to keep the peace, and if we have to we will play the party crashers!" the Sheriff's Office post said. Mall management also posted an advisory that morning, saying it would strictly enforce its code of conduct. It warned that "violations may result in removal from the property, loss of shopping privileges and/or criminal prosecution." The mall posted a link to the code of conduct on its website. At 7:30 p.m. July 5, the Sheriff's Office announced on Facebook that people needed to immediately come get their children if they were at the mall. That announcement triggered 1,200 comments as of 10:30 a.m. July 6. Deputies could be seen about 8 p.m. surrounding groups of teenagers at the mall. A Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Times-Union news partner First Coast News that deputies responded to a group of teens causing "disturbances" there. Some commenters reported seeing groups estimated at 20 to 100 teenagers running from the mall across Wells Road and Blanding Boulevard as sheriff's deputies worked at crowd control. Many social media posters voiced support for the Sheriff's Office and mall officials. Others decried the necessity for the crackdown. And some denounced troublemakers, as well as their parents for failing to raise their children right. One witness posted: "A lot of the stores closed early. My spouse and I were in shock. And parents really do need to know what their children are up to." Another said parents need to step up. "No kids should be at the mall without adult supervision. Enforce the rules! We use to back in the day, but we were taught how to be respectful and responsible. Most kids these days are raising themselves and could care less about others! It's such a shame," the post read. Another called on Clay County officials to create more activities for youths so they will have something to do besides cause trouble at the mall. "Kids congregate there because there is nothing for them to do in Orange Park except skating rink and movies. Therefore they find and create trouble. … I'm not excusing bad children or bad parenting, but idle hands & minds do the devil's work. You want to reduce crime, give these kids something to do ( a lot of them may be in 1/2 absent parent homes due to parents working, drugs, or incarceration)." Opened in 1975, Orange Park Mall is the Jacksonville area's second-oldest indoor shopping mall. The weekend incident was the most recent disturbance involving teenagers at the 953,000 square foot shopping center. 2014 teen disturbance: Crowd of teens involved in weekend incidents at Orange Park Mall, Chick-fil-A Past incidents date back to at least 2014, Times-Union archives show, and have happened sporadically since then. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Hundreds of teens cleared from Orange Park Mall amid disturbance
